Tuesday, December 23, 2014

In Keeping with Tradition

In Keeping with Tradition

We often share
Christmas traditions that our families have shared. Each one has very special
meaning especially if passed down from generation to generation. I would like
to share one that we all should incorporate into our lives, one that has been
passed down from generations in the family of God:

“Now
the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: after His mother Mary was betrothed
to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy
Spirit.

Then
Joseph her husband being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public
example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these
things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying,
“Joseph, Son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that
which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a
Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their
sins.”

So
all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord
through the prophet saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a
Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel which is translated, “God with us”.

Then
Joseph being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and
took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her
firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus.

Matthew
1:18-25

When reading the
above verses we see that Mary is with child, the Christ child. Joseph desires
to protect Mary from the ‘humiliation’ that she may face or possibly a stoning.
Joseph also being a just man more than likely desired to protect his name and
reputation. So he wants to send Mary away secretly.

Yet, what
happens next?

“But
while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to
him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, Son of David, do not be afraid to take to you
Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And
she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save
His people from their sins.”

Matthew 1:20-21

While Joseph was
pondering this very thing and angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream.

~What was Joseph’s response?

He did as the
angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife.

He did as the angel
of the Lord commanded him.

~Do we do as we are commanded by the
Lord?

I am sure that
all of us at one time or another have been faced with a difficult decision to
make. Being human, we tend to think in more ‘practical’ ways rather than
spiritual and really for us as Christians thinking spiritually is thinking
practically.

~What do you think causes us to re-act
in a ‘practical’ fashion?

FEAR

Perhaps: Fear of
Humiliation

Perhaps: Fear of
being Outcast or Shunned

Perhaps: Fear of
Offending

Perhaps: Fear of
…fill in the blank

Let’s see what 2
Timothy chapter 1 verse 7 says:

For
God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound
mind.

2 Timothy 1:7

We have not been
given a spirit of fear but one of:

-The Power of the
Holy Spirit

-The Love of God

-A Sound Mind
being focused on Jesus

Just as Mary and
Joseph did, let’s focus on Jesus, our Savior.

Upon reading
Joseph’s account I couldn’t help but think of the Sunday School song “This
Little Light of Mine”. Joseph and Mary both made the decision to be obedient
and not hide the Lord.

~Do we tend to ‘hide’ that light under a
bushel when in fear?

Hide it under a
bushel….NO! We need to shine for Jesus.

Let’s look at
Jesus’ words in Matthew chapter 5,

“You
are a light of the world, A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do
they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives
light to all who are in the house.”

Matthew 5:14-15

~What happens when we shine for the
Lord?

Others recognize
a difference in us from the world. I am reminded of what Michael has mentioned
in his teachings of the worst thing that a Christian can be told,

“Oh,
I never knew that you were a Christian.”

OUCH! I never
want to hear that because I never want to misrepresent my Lord.

The next thing
that happens when our light shines,

People
experience the Lord through us:

-We can offer
them Love through Jesus

-We can offer
them Comfort through Jesus

-We can offer
them Joy through Jesus

-We can offer
them Hope through Jesus

-We can offer
them Peace through Jesus

-We can offer
them the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

A quote from
William Bradford:

“One small candle may light a thousand”

If you think
that you cannot make a difference for the Lord, think again. He equips us to do
His will. He is everything and gives us everything we need to live a life that
is glorifying to Him.

When we live a
life for Jesus, the Lord is magnified. Let’s be encouraged to not be swayed by
circumstances or feelings but be swayed by His word and His command to let our
light shine.

“Let
your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify
your Father in heaven”

Matthew 5:16

So let’s follow
Mary and Joseph’s lead to cast our fears away and be obedient to our calling
and let that Light shine so the world may come to know the Savior, Jesus
Christ.

Our
Prayer:

Heavenly Father,
we can never, ever thank You enough for sending Your only Son, the precious
gift of Jesus to take our place on the cross for our sins. We thank You that
You love us So Much, that You are always there for us. Father we ask that we
would draw close to You and that we would not let the fears of the world get in
the way of being a light for You and showing others Jesus through our lives. We
pray for the salvation of the lost and Lord that you would use us to be
instrumental in leading others to You. And Father most of all we desire for You
to be glorified. Thank You forever. In Jesus most Precious Name we pray…Amen!

About Me

Welcome! I am a born-again Bible believing Christian saved by the grace of God through faith in my Lord Jesus Christ. I am also married to the most wonderful husband ever.
My prayer is that as you visit you will find both encouragement and refreshment in the Lord as well as some creative inspiration. Above all, that Christ would be glorified.